Internships

SUMMER INTERNSHIPS

Legal Interns

Every year, LFC has the honor of reviewing the resumes of hundreds of outstanding law students for our summer legal internship program. This highly competitive program results in the selection of approximately nine law students from across the country who are committed to exploring the legal, ethical and practice skills necessary to successfully advocate for children and young adults in high conflict custody and child welfare cases. Law students spend ten weeks at LFC working under the direct supervision of one or two attorneys. There is a formal training program that continues over the course of the summer, and interns may request placement with one of our special projects. Our student practice order permits second year students to present cases in court and all students have the opportunity to help prepare cases for trial, work on memos of law, draft motions and orders to show cause, and participate in client interviews. Applications must include a cover letter and resume and should be submitted before February 15 to gmampel@lawyersforchildren.org.

"I absolutely loved interning at LFC. I gained insight and knowledge about foster care and the workings of the Family Court. My two supervising attorneys were extremely patient, helpful, and enthusiastic about their work; they were open to my questions and responsive to any requests that I had. The internship definitely surpassed my expectations. LFC attorneys seem to do it all and it's really impressive. I am very fortunate to have interned here!"

Theresa D'Andrea, University of Michigan Law School, Summer Legal Intern

"This internship has far exceeded my expectations. The substantive work is fulfilling and the exposure to the practice is amazing. In addition, the staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and accessible. Many of my friends at other nonprofits do not get a lot of work or they get the work that no one else wants to do, but that is not the case here. I can not say enough good things about LFC and my experience!"

Tara Garlinghouse, University of Pennsylvania Law School, Summer Legal Intern

Social Work Interns

Lawyers For Children is a dynamic organization of social workers, attorneys, and youth advocates who provide advocacy and comprehensive services to some of New York City's most vulnerable children.

LFC has a robust social work summer internship program for students committed to child welfare issues. As a social work intern, you would work side by side with our staff social workers, gaining valuable exposure to the profession and to the most pressing issues facing the City's children and their families.

Interns will have a formal training program that continues throughout the summer.

Social work interns have the opportunity to accompany social workers on field visits, sit in on client interviews and case conferences, observe court cases, and help prepare the social work portion of cases for hearings and trial.

In addition, interns will work together as part of the legal/social work team that makes LFC's advocacy model unique.

Read what former social worker interns have said about their experience:

"I have learned so much this summer--not only about the foster care system, but about how to be a strong advocate and what it looks like to truly and deeply care for those you work for. Everyone at LFC has been a real role model for me and anywhere I work after this is going to have to try really hard to live up to the amazing experience I've had here."

--Sarah Revesz, Swarthmore College

This internship has exceeded my expectations. I couldn’t have asked for a more hands-on experience or full immersion into the world of child welfare. Not only have I been exposed to the social work aspect of child welfare but also the realm of law, which I’ve found to be fascinating.

--Alana Becker, Cornell University

ACADEMIC YEAR INTERNSHIPS

Legal and Social Work Internships

LFC accepts a limited number of legal and social work interns for approximately 10-15 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters. All internships are volunteer positions and no stipends are available through LFC. The academic year program provides opportunities for the same case engagement as described in the summer program. Applications for legal and social work internships should be submitted as indicated in the summer internship section, above.

MSW Field Placements

Several of LFC's social workers are accredited MSW field placement supervisors. We have provided field placement supervision for MSW students from Columbia, NYU, Fordham, and most of the other local schools of social work. MSW candidates interested in an LFC field placement should submit a cover letter and resume to pking@lawyersforchildren.org.